Box Score Box Score

The University of Regina's women's basketball team clinched first place in Canada West's Prairie Division on Friday night after defeating the Winnipeg Wesmen by a 68-59 score at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

Winnipeg jumped out of the gates quickly, scoring the first seven points of the contest and leading 16-8 after the first quarter. The Cougars whittled away at the lead, knocking the deficit to five at halftime and taking the lead for good after scoring ten consecutive points early in the third quarter.

The Wesmen pulled to within two points with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Cougars clamped down on defence and scored the final seven points of the game to secure the victory.

Lindsay Ledingham registered the game's lone double-double for the Cougars, scoring 18 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in a game-high 35 minutes on the floor. Joanna Zalesiak led the Cougars in both points (19) and assists (6) and added seven rebounds.

Amy Ogidan was a perfect 8-for-8 from the line for Winnipeg and led all players with 20 points. Jessica Stromberg and Kaitlin Rempel both chipped in with eight points for the Wesmen, who drop to 10-8 with the loss.

The victory improves Regina's record to 15-2 on the season.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night at the CKHS. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.

NOTES: The Cougars will host the first round of the Canada West playoffs against either the fourth-place finishers in the Pacific Division or the fifth-place team in the Prairie Division … Game 1 of the best-of-three Canada West quarterfinal series is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26.